Te Kāhui Hauora acknowledges the appointment of Hemaina Hughes (Whakatōhea, Ngāpuhi) as Patron of Te Kaunihera o Ngā Neehi Māori, the National Council of Māori Nurses.
The role was once held by the late Whaea Putiputi O’Brien QSO and has been reinstated after a decade.
Heimana is a highly experienced clinician, educator and leader. Among her many achievements is the development of Te Ōhanga Mataora Paetahi: Bachelor of Health Sciences Māori Nursing, Bachelor of Nursing Māori programme. She also led the nursing programme at Whitireia Institute of Technology.
Luckily for us, Heimana is also the current national executive member for Te Tauihu on the nurses council and has long been involved with our rohe.
We thank Heimana for her ongoing service and leadership and could not think of a better person to take on this treasured patron role.